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The Gospel of John, Part 4
John 1:19-51
Talk by Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen)
July 15, 2025

Description: 
Metropolitan Jonah discusses the Gospel of John 1:19-51. Topics include:
(1) St. John the Theologian's identity in terms of his family, age, etc.; 
(2) St. John the Baptizer's identity in relation to Elijah and the Forerunner of Isaiah 40; 
(3) John's baptism within the contemporary context of ritual cleansing and the promise of one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. Jesus transformed the traditional rite of baptism into a spiritual death and resurrection accompanied by baptism with the Holy Spirit (Chrismation). Discussion of Chrismation in the Eastern Churches; 
(4) John's baptism as the revelation of the Christ, both in terms of the Theophany that occurred therein and in terms of spiritual perception by a repentant heart; 
(5) Jesus Christ's identity as "the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world", i.e., the Paschal / Atoning sacrifice, and as Son of God, "before John" the Baptizer as God incarnate, even though as a man younger than John; 
(6) The Baptism of Christ and Theophany compared among the Gospels. The "heavens opened to Him" as heavenly vision and as a sign of reconciliation of the creation to the Creator (comments by the Fathers); 
(7) The tempting in the wilderness (not included in the Gospel of John) as one of Christ's decisive battles against Satan on earth. In this battle Christ overcame the lies of Satan that He was not the Son of God. He had already cast Satan out of Heaven before the creation of the world. Now He pursues him to earth and defeats him utterly [in His life, death and resurrection]. Contrast was made with the weakened "nice guy" Christology seen too often in American Protestantism.